Over the holiday period, NPD video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella has been sharing some interesting data about software and hardware trends within America. According to the NPD Group's PlayerPulse surveys, more than 40% of Switch owners located in the US own a PlayStation 4 and/or an Xbox One.

Piscatella goes onto explain how the Nintendo Switch "isn't a substitute" to either system and is actually supplemental. Below is his full explanation via Twitter:

For clarity, supplemental in this context means supplemental purchase (additive/incremental). This term does not refer to player preference.— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) January 2, 2020

He also notes how he doesn't see next-generation hardware launches having a meaningful impact on Switch sales in 2020. Piscatella recently elaborated on the current sales momentum of the Switch, in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz:

Nintendo Switch will remain on top in the hardware space, perhaps into 2022.

However, he did go onto mention how the industry, in general, could see a hardware sales decline, as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One end their life cycles. Switch growth was, fortunately, able to offset some of these declines in 2019, but it's unlikely this will continue this year.

Do you own any other current-generation video game systems? Leave a comment down below.

When he’s not paying off a loan to Tom Nook, Liam likes to report on the latest Nintendo news and admire his library of video games. His favourite Nintendo character used to be a guitar-playing dog, but nowadays he prefers to hang out with Judd the cat.

Switch only here and have never run out of games to play. I have nothing against PS4 or XBox, just literally not enough hours in the day to play on Switch and another console, and the Switch can go everywhere with me.

Well yes. I have all 3 and thats because theres going to be some games that i can’t play on my Switch like Resident Evil 2, Gears 5 and Death Stranding. But my Switch is my main console through and through!

Rather surprised it's such a low percentage. If I had to have took a shot in the dark, I'd of guessed that at least over 60% of Switch owners had another modern game console connected to their television.

While I'm a fan of even obscure consoles like the Vectrex, as a Nintendo fan I'm still happy to see a substantial percentage of current gen Nintendo hardware owners that are happily getting by with just a Switch.

Got my switch in June after launch and was happy with just the switch for the longest time. Just bought a PS4 this holiday season and am excited to catch up on this console as well as continue to support the switch

I had an Xbox One when I bought my Switch, but a year later I sold it. I just vastly preferred playing on the Switch. In fact, I played Wolfenstein II on Xbox One first, and hated it, and for some reason bought it again on Switch, but I loved it on the Switch! That was the moment I knew I was done with Xbox.

Ha, ya right. Lies! I don't have anything else but Nintendo products. I would never betray Nintendo. Well, ok fine I um, have other systems but I don't play them! Honest! I only play Nintendo stuff! 100% Truth! Um, well fine I do play other systems but I am still loyal to Nintendo! Please don't come to my house and get rid of everything that is not Nintendo! Please! cries

I’d probably class my Switch as a supplementary system to be honest, I loved Mario Odyssey and Smash was great when my brother was still living with us but I just haven’t played it that much. Whereas my PS4 and laptop are where I do most gaming these days, other than mopping up my backlog on 3DS or GBA. I have got mega into Three Houses but it’s the indies and smaller gems that have shined for me so far this gen, Hollow Knight is insanely good and Katamari Damacy suits the Switch brilliantly (and I just got the OST on vinyl too!). I don’t think I could just play Switch, a lot of games just feel better with a mouse or haven’t been released on console plus the Sony exclusives are great too. Bring on PS5 and hopefully Ninty have a bit more to show to compete this year.

Makes sense, after all the Switch lacks lots of must-have games from this generation that can only be found on PC, Xbox, and PS4. Personally i've never liked owning more than one console at a time because then i feel like im becoming obsessed so the Switch is enough for me

I think the Switch puts Nintendo in the strongest position to argue a Switch is all you need today. The third-party support has been through the roof! Despite owning multiple systems, I still spend quite a bit of time mine.

I run Switch, PC, and PS4. My PS4 hasn't seen the light of day for a while. It's been boxed since I moved months ago, and I haven't really been compelled to take it out. The KH3 DLC might do it!

I also have the NES and SNES Classics sitting on one of my shelves, if those count. I hacked my SNES Classic with the ROM injector and played it a ton around the time it came out. It's been mostly a decoration since, though.

As a man in his "middle ages," I don't have the time, money or desire to buy multiple consoles. I barely have time to play everything I want on the Switch. I do have some of the mini consoles (Genesis/SNES/NES) more for collection sakes and a Wii U from last gen, but when you have a job, wife, family, friends and other hobbies occupying your time, gaming comes at a premium. That the Switch provides a wide variety of games (first party/indie/retro/third party AAA) that can be played anywhere and not have me tied down to a TV (but able to play it there if so desired) is the main selling point.

I have PS4 Pro, XB1X, Switch and Switch Lite from this gen. Add on a gaming PC and a pretty sizeable retro console collection and I'm pretty sure I should just be omitted from the survey for skewing the results. Still, Switch is my mainstay because it's portable. Nothing else really comes close at the moment.

After the PS2, I went on a bit of a gaming "hiatus." My parents got me a Wii a few years later, which was fun for Wii Sports bowling for a few months before I got bored of it like everyone else. I never liked that system.

The Wii U I won at a work event. It had some good games and the VC was awesome, but I still didn't play it all that much.

The Switch I bought with my own money and it actually made me fall back in love with gaming again.

I have an XBone that i mainly use as a tv media box and occasionally use it to play a game, usually bioshock(until the switch port 🤞). The switch has spoiled me, i want to play everything on it, its so convenient.

Not counting older consoles? I have a PS4 in addition to my Switch. Not for a lack of Switch games. For one, I got it during the late Wii U years when the catalog had gotten a bit dry... and two, it was primarily for a select few games I wanted and couldn’t get on a Nintendo platform. Mainly Kingdom Hearts 3 but also Monster Hunter World, and it gave me a chance to get some games I would’ve missed, like God of War 4, the Uncharted trilogy, and the Zero Escape trilogy.

@kingbk That is so great that you snagged it, then! I'm really worried Square will never release the original version again after seeing the steam and mobile releases are based on the DS version. The Wii VC might've been the last place to (officially) get the original. 😢

I always had Two consoles. 1 is always Nintendo related. And number two is either Xbox or Playstation. At first i had PS 4 but it collected to much dust so i sold it.Then i had xbox1 played mostly killer instinct and gears of war after that it collected dust. Switch is my most played console, its so much fun. Still playing mario kart 8 at family partys we all take ou switches with us and battle it out lol.

On switch i only miss the shooters first person and third person.

But then again i play those games on my PC (battlefield, Ghost recon wildlands/breakpoint etc)

I have PS4 and Switch. But I have to say I haven't played my PS4 in months, while the Switch gets regular use. Adored God of War, as well as Spider-Man and Persona 5, but other than that... Switch all the way.

@chocolate_supra 25th anniversary? Here’s hoping for a PSN Chrono Cross remaster like they did with other PS1 games like Final Fantasy VIII or IX. Or, if I’m being really ambitious, Radical Dreamers coming on SNES Online. Honestly I’d take just the original Chrono Trigger on Switch at this rate 😅

All this talk is something missing not all games are on all platforms because of GPU power or CPU power needed-IP keeps some games from coming to other consoles. This is because those studio are stiffling innovations to break into more markets. Only when they start failing dead last do they release oh maybe we should invest in other platforms. AKA Witcher 3..... Need stay more but this was a 3rd porting that took it to make them realize hey we can do this and get more $$ and more gamers to buy.I'll stick to Gaming 4K 120hz PC over xbox/ps4 neither of those consoles can compete on the PC level. Then have my Switch for games on the go or Docked that PC doesn't have. Also I gave up on Steam/GOG don't like being tied down on PC when Switch can game anywhere/anytime/anyplace just by itself. Try doing that with xbox/ps-nothing going to happen and PC that has to be a Gaming Laptop and that cost $$ and then you need wifi to use Steam/GOG not cheap and or you doing have wifi access.

I think it's awesome that modern gamers have so much choice. I love my Switch and I buy most of my games for it but I must say, it was nice playing DQXI on the PS4 Pro or Forza on the Xbox 1X. I'm all about having that choice. I'm just thankful to have the ability to play so many great games on different platforms. I love my Switch and like my PS4/Xbox 1consoles.

@SwitchForce
"I'll stick to Gaming 4K 120hz PC over xbox/ps4 neither of those consoles can compete on the PC level "

Well, depend on the games.
I bought consoles (PS3 lately) for their Casual games that fit in my heart.
I bought PS3 not for playing AAA 3rd party Western games like on PC also.
I bought PS3 for Casual games such as Racket Sports, Sport Champions 2, F1 Race Stars, London 2012, Hannah Montana, with some PS exclusive games such as All Ratchet PS3 games, etc.
I bought PS4 for Portal Knights, The Sims 4 & Dragon Quest Builders, some Casual (again) games.
I don't need PC level games.
I need a machine with just insert and play, not install and get complicated by PC specs.

I bought a PS4 when the Wii U started to run out of games to play. To this day I’ve played twice as many games on the Wii U than the PS4, and since the Switch came along I’m about 90/10 a Switch to PS4 player. I do watch Netflix on my PS4, but I can even download that on my TV now.

The PS4 has been a real disappointment to me, in it’s games, it’s controller, and it’s reliability (it crashes and ejects games A LOT and updates too often). I really don’t think I would bother with a PS5 as the Switch is more me.

Long term Xbox player here, joined Switch when the Lite came out. Definitely agree with the statement, additive. I’m not playing any less Xbox (possibly more) but I am gaming more. Love the Switch, do pickup and play around the house more than expected and its perfect for when charging my iPace 😎. A long haul flight with Ori made me realise what genius that game is (I didn’t originally get into it on the xbox as more an fps player) to the point I am now also replaying it on xbox/pc. Big holiday coming up so looking forward to The Witcher III on the Switch, probably my favourite game on the Xbox One and after the Netflix series can’t wait to play it on the move.
Only issue is that a lot of the games I’d like to replay on mobile are still too expensive for a second purchase. Quite enjoying Zelda though not massively my thing but certainly some nintendo exclusives I’m now interested in (Like Astral chain).
I’d chalk it down to a win win for gaming. I’d say the same for Xbox game pass as thats now got me back into PC gaming to the benefit of Steam too (which is where I started and indirectly how I got into the technology career that pays for all the tech).

I have a ps4 slim 2 3ds's and a switch. Got the ps4 during the first year of owning a switch. Got frustrated with the lack of games after finishing BOTW and also seeing Doom and Skyrim for around $10 on ps4 while $59.99 on switch. I also expected everything up to GameCube on virtual console, but I was very wrong with that assumption. Considering the cheaper games, the ps4 paid for itself. If Nintendo stepped up their game with virtual console and minimized the switch tax, I'd never have purchased a PS4.

Not counting my handheld gaming collection (from Game & Watch to 3DS), I only own a Switch. And honestly, as much as I'd like to play some of the games on PS4 and Xbox One, I don't have the time for it. And because the Switch has a great collection of games, I don't feel the need to get another console as that would only increase my already huge backlog. And as a handheld collector, the Switch also suits my collecting preferences.

I bought a cheap PS4 on Cyber Monday, and honestly, I’ve been blown away. It’s incredible! The Switch got me back into gaming after a ten year hiatus, and the PlayStation compliments it perfectly. I love them both!

I’m surprised it’s that low. I’ve got a PS4 Pro and XB1X (though Switch increasingly gets used the most) and all the other Switch owners I know have a PS4 as well. Goes to demonstrate the Low value of anecdotal evidence.

I wonder if this shows how good a job Nintendo have done selling outside the Gaming ‘Community’. If you believe what you read on the Internet every Switch owner has only bought one as a supplement to another system (and it is the perfect complement to another Console or a PC) yet it’s selling lots to people who don’t frequent Gaming Forums. Not just kids, adults with busy lives and disposable income.

I know a lot of people who own a Switch but also own an Xbox of some kind, a Dreamcast, a Super NES, and/or a Sega Genesis. When you own multiple systems, you then started to see the different offerings in gaming over other platforms for example Genesis offer speed over graphics, Super NES offer solid performance over high end power, Saturn offer great 2D spectacle over hideous 3D models, N64 offer immersions of 3D gameplay control over lame 3D tank control, Xbox offer solid online play over couch local multiplayer, etc.

I have both a gaming PC and a Switch, which I feel is a great balance. I have to say, though, I'm more reluctant to buy games on my PC these days. I'll look at something and be like, "Eh... I'd rather get that on the Switch..."

I have a Switch, PS4 and a gaming PC. While my main platform of choice is PC, my switch is a nice little side option for me where fps for certain genres are not a big deal (e,g turn based rpg) where they be 30 on the switch while 60+ on my rig. I am mostly referring to multiplats where a game is available on both systems.

my ps4 is collecting dust till the yakuza remasters come out on physical.

I have way too many consoles with games that I don't have time to pay. New Year and am honestly thinking of having a sort out. Going to replace my One X with a series X (have so many games on it and ultimate till Dec 2022) but can see me happy with that and a switch. My Wii U might stay as good for VC, Wii U and Wii. My heart says keep the rest but it's a waste. Even my Teenage mutant hero turtles edition NES should be enjoyed by someone who has the time. I hate growing up!

Nintendo has been a complimentary system arguably since the GameCube era. I know that’s when it became that way for me. I went from N64 only to PS2 (at first just because it was a decently priced DVD player and later really got into the games). I got the cube a year later and only bought the handful of exclusives I wanted to play. I more than got my money’s worth from both systems.

I have a lot of systems and tend to play a bit on each. However, as nice as the switch is it is a glorified handheld (a very good one) but cannot compete with my Xbox one in terms of power and content. I have a huge library of digital games, both from games with gold giving me 4 games a month and backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games. Add to that game pass and it is clear why it is my main console. The ridiculous pricing of switch games means it will end up like my cube; used regularly for the handful of exclusives I get for it (I only have Smash, Mega Drive Collection, Namco arcade double pac and Jedi Knight (nostalgia!) and because I supported the Wii U last gen, a lot of other games I already have for that system so, unless I find them really cheap at some point, I won’t double dip.

Got all three this gen. last gen I skipped on the PS3 and had the 360 and Nintendo machine as my line up. I always get nintendos system no matter what and then exclusives dictate what the other machine will be.

I've got a Switch and two Xbones. Xbones were for Destiny and Halo with my wife, plus my buddy uses one when I play fortnite on the Switch. But my Switch is my primary console, and where I do almost all of my gaming these days 😁

Switch only for me...I'm a lapsed gamer (and former Sega man until they withdrew from making consoles) from the arcade era who got back into things when I picked up a Wii U with some Amazon vouchers I got awarded. After the death of the Gamecube I looked around and I didn't like the direction games were going in, all misery, scowling, grey, serious and kill everything on sight - basically when western style "AAA" gaming took over. All these attempts at realism when all I want to do when playing games is escape reality and have a laugh.

Very little has changed with a lot of these games between now and then in what they make, apart from now they've added some extra colour and more stubble, plus now they nickel and dime people more. That is why I've never bothered with the PS or Xbox ever. There's just not been enough games for me to warrant giving them my money and the majority of what they do have is the stuff I walked away from.

In daily use at our house are 3 switch’s, a 3ds, a Wii U and the ps3/4 mainly for dvds for kids. The oldest plays apex and cod on it right now, but he is a cool fad gamer that only plays what his friends are playing on it. We all go through that phase. I did play the new Jedi fallen order but that was my first ps game since re2 remake.

I have a Switch and an Xbox one. Xbox one ia currently collecting dust. The portability aspect of Switch far outweighs the visual benefits of playing games on the xbox system. Switch is freedom, while a standard tv system chains you to a chair.

If you're heavily into games you pretty much have to have at least 2 systems because there's a lot of great stuff not released on Switch and vice versa. Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order was my game of the year last year. Can't play that on Switch and I wouldn't want to because it was so gorgeous on Xbox One X. Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5 were also phenomenal games that you can't play on Switch. Then again the Switch has the best exclusive games because Nintendo is the best developer in the industry.

This stat is meaningless unless you know the percentage of Xbox one and PS4 owners who also have another console?! The article suggests to me that it's talking about people who own just one console, for which we would need more stats. This "40%" on it's own is nothing

I can't imagine not having a PS4 in addition. Even if some of the third party games eventually make it to the Switch, you pay premium price for them on the Switch. If I'm going to pay full price I'll be getting them day one on PS4 instead of waiting two years for them on the Switch.

I have a PS4 in addition to my Switch, but I don't play it much. I mainly just have PS4 for a few exclusives and third party stuff (Watch Dogs 1 & 2, Knack 1 & 2, Gravity Rush 1 & 2, The Last Guardian, and Far Cry 4). I spend much, MUCH more time on my Switch.

Of the big three, I only have a Switch. If Sony were to release a portable or hybrid (that they're willing to support and doesn't use proprietary memory cards) I would totally be interested. I just don't have the time to play games tethered to a single room anymore. The Switch has enough third party games, that I don't feel like I'm missing much. I got an Oculus Quest for my secondary system and it offers a completely different experience and travels with me.

I have certain games on my laptop (mostly The Sims 1-4, The Sims Medieval, and all the Dragon Age games), but it’s just a normal laptop I bought in 2017. I gave my Wii to my best friend after hacking the Wii U to make it play GameCube. I traded in the DSi after transferring to the 3DS. I lent the GBA SP to a friend and never got it back. The NES died (RIP).

@ZimonThis is what I thought when I read the title and article above too. So yes...more than 40% of people own a PS4/Xbox and Switch...but the flip side of that is MORE THAN 50% OF PEOPLE ONLY OWN A SWITCH and neither of the other two systems. That's a pretty incredible figure I'd say, and could grow to even higher percentages if the sales of the Switch continue to hit the skies as they have been. And with heavy hitters like Bayonetta 3, Prime 4, AC: New Horizons, etc. still to come...and even more ports and other unannounced titles in the future...I think the lifespan of the Switch is going to be just fine.

“ Or, 60% of Switch owners DON'T have another system so good ports are welcome. Thank you.”

Bingo! People on Gaming forums on the Internet would have you believe that everyone has another system and ports are worthless. Yet they keep getting made, as if they’re making money for someone. Maybe this survey goes some way to explaining why....

I like this thread. Every other thread is ps and xb are trash. Who wants to use a tv. And here we are in a thread like a confessional booth all admitting what other systems we have and all the games we played. I guess we all don't hate the tv as much as we like to say we do.

The very fact the Switch is selling so well is because alot of those other Developers aren't sidling themselves to just one platform and the Witcher 3 release clearly has shown it can be done and still be a excellent game. I play it and love it and now - also they are coming with a update for it too. My needs nowdays are Dock/Portable and the Switch fits perfectly in this lifestyle I have to live with.

@SMW You and me both! I'd rather that Rare Replay comes to either PC or Switch too, because I don't feel like buying an Xbox One just for that. Plus with us having a PC of some kind and with games like Ori and Halo TMCC now on Steam, there's not much reason to buy an X1 these days.

I owned a PS4 Pro and played maybe 2-3 games on it, graphics were great, but found few games based on story alone gripping enough for me to miss playing them. And, then I tried the Switch and found Nintendo in essence has found lightening in a bottle!!!

Sold off my PS4 Pro to afford more Nintendo games for me and my son, and to get him a Switch too. Never looked back, and find although the graphics may not be 4K HDR, I find myself never wanting to give up my Switch...portable arcade and highly gripping story driven games! As an added bonus there exist a novel and forgot concept: Couch Co-Op!

I only have a Switch right now since it was more cost effective for me when I bought it December 2018. Not only that Nintendo has always been my number one and although I do want to own a PS4 and a XBox One I am in no rush, I will get them eventually. I missed out on last gen(incarcerated from Oct 19, 2005-May 31, 2018) so I just got into this gen and with remastered ports coming to the Switch it is a huge bonus for me. I get to play some of those games without having to buy the last gen consoles.

@Trajan I really dislike this statement. This "bring them to PC" arguments just shows that you don't really like Nintendo games. You just play games for status, and not lowering yourself to get a Nintendo consoles.

@DK-Fan It was a jab at what he was saying. However your statement actually points to the following: if you like the games wouldn't you want to enjoy them in the best way? If you only like the games because of the console then that would just make you a fanboy.

A gamer has all the consoles, a child is most likely unable to obtain them all and an adult with only one isn't a gamer, but a hobbyist.

I have two of each current gen box and plan to next gen as well. With a full time job (12 hours a day), a family, obvious responsibilities, and a collection of chores and other hobbies, finding time for gaming is incredibly easy. Most people who say there isn't time waste it by letting the tv drone on as they scroll Facebook. You either want to game, or do it as a casual hobby. My family games, otherwise there is no tv on at all and we're out bonding over other things.

I have and Xbox One X as well as my Switch. I had a PS4 as well, but it wasn’t being used much so I sold it to a friend. I like the Switch for the 1st party games, but also for the ability to play games on the go. I have Skyrim and Diablo 3 on both systems, but they get wayyyyy more use on my Switch.

@Heavyarms55 I have a switch,switch lite, new 3ds, PS4 pro, Xbox one, and a PC with a 2080 ti. Some might say I have a problem but I say that I love games and want to write about them. It would be crazy to stop now.

@Trajan" if you like the games wouldn't you want to enjoy them in the best way?"

And playing them in a desk with a keyboar is "the best"? oh you mean the OMG4KHD stuff that nobody notices? you know that Nintendo consoles are no longer 8 or 16 bit right?

"If you only like the games because of the console then that would just make you a fanboy".

No. I like Nintendo games on their ecosystem. Games that have their own hardware work much better than in generic ones. Nintendo games have a much better quality because their own environment to thrive. Remember:

A great example is Sega. Sega games were much better when they have their own Hardware. When they became a Third Party, they became generic and unfocused because they stop taking their games seriously.

@DK-Fan thats actually why I prefer consoles. Sure they could make their games on everything.

No that's not really true unless you're talking about gimmick games. BOTW plays great on PC for the little bit of it I played at my friends house. Looks better too. He enjoys playing on PC, I don't, but more power to him.

That is your opinion. I'm not a Sega person, never have been so I can't comment on that. Sega quit making hardware for vast reasons. That has nothing to do with their software. (Since they own Atlus now that's cool as Persona is amazing and SMT is good. I still have yet to play Shenmue, but I have the disc.)

However I do see what is happening here: you have attached an identity to Nintendo that is inseparable from their hardware. Instead of actually loving the games you attach yourself to Nintendo to give yourself an identity. That issue is too vast to cover here, but I hope you find meaning beyond corporations my friend.

@MuhBael not just that but for graphic intensive games you don't want to go Nintendo. Otherwise you assume the risk with lower frame rates and graphic quality like bloodstained. No idea why they don't have a hard drive neither, but at least you don't have to leave on overnight for installation times and downloading Whoppers of games like marvel vs Capcom infinite (65 gigs), but then switch only has old games with switch online (I prefer downloading for free 3ds Mario maker levels) compared to ps now/Xbox game game pass.

I am definitely among the 40% with an Xbox One X (Scorpio), PS4 Pro Spider-Man edition, and gaming PC alongside my launch Switch. PC remains my favorite way to play since I like shooters. I really prefer the X1X for couch games, Xbox 360 backwards compatibility, and the too-good-to-be-true Game Pass subscription. Switch is my second most used console. I only bought the PS4 for Last of Us Part 2 and Spider-Man. Lots more I didn't list...rather not think about the backlog.

Who is ‘we?’ Where are people saying ‘ps and xb are trash. Who wants to use a tv’? Are they the same people on this thread saying they have multiple systems? If not, who are you talking about? If so, are you accusing them of lying?

Yeah I’m an avid gamer that works and has the time for more than one console.

PC is the best, most flexible and accessible overall and it’s my main platform.Switch is my go to buddy when travelling, hardly ever play docked.PS4 has very low use lately, only use it in the living room for PS exclusives and last year was very poor in that regard.

The other 60% are nintendo hardcores who think GOTY games are trash until BOTW won it. Or people who need excuses to own a switch (I'm a very busy person, I'm always traveling, etc).

I will be the minority in this comment section (like i tend to mostly do in nintendolife), but those 40% are smart gamers. People who don't need excuses to appreciate mariokart, gran turismo, and forza at the same time. Or you know, just adults with better time management.

@electrolite77 I get you don't like generalizations and you want me to keep track of every single comment so that I am very specific when I say "everyone.". How about not including yourself in my " everyone" comments then. But the fact is there is only so many people on these forums and we have over 100 comments here from different people mostly saying they have at least one of the other consoles.

I don’t like anyone using generalisations because they’re pointless. This survey echoes what reading the Comments on here will tell you. Some people have other systems, some don’t. Yet you’re trying to find hypocrisy in that. It’s futile.

@chocolate_supra As someone who's not too familiar with Chrono Trigger and has only the DS version (on cart, bought it back then cause I heard good things about the game in general but never got around to playing).. what makes the original SNES version so much better than the DS version?

Splashed out on a chipped one with a Retrobit Bluetooth Controller and Levelhike HDMI Cable. Always wanted to explore the Saturn’s back catalogue but the prices of some games are incredible. Yes I’m pirating them instead but they aren’t available anywhere except from resellers so (shrugs). And what a great system. Some incredible shooters, really unique games and while not everything holds up well the likes of Sega Rally, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Elevator Action Returns and Athlete Kings are still superb.

@Yosher I wouldn't say the SNES version is better, just different. I grew up with the original so when I'm expecting to see one thing and I see something else, it takes me out of the game for a second. They completely redid the script to be more accurate to the original Japanese, which I understand, but in doing so they removed a lot of flavor like Frog's pseudo-old-timey speech and Magus' sass. Many of the lines I could recite verbatim are just different now. They changed the names of a bunch of monsters, changed names of lots of attacks, etc, so like I want to attack the Winged Ape except it's called a Bao Bao now and I have to do a quick check to make sure I have the right enemy selected, that sort of thing. And then they went and shoehorned in a couple extra areas that are meant to tie the game in to Chrono Cross.

Lots of people consider the DS version superior due to these changes, and I totally understand that. But I'm quite nostalgic about the SNES game and have been wishing there was a way to play the version I grew up with. I'd assume it'd be easy to set the game up with an option to switch off the changes (like in the new Shenmue 1&2 release) but Square seems to be sticking with this moving forward. They drastically altered the menu system for the worse on mobile, then when they released the Steam version they just ported the mobile version over. They don't seem to be interested in releasing legacy versions. Now I'm afraid that if they DO release the game on Switch, they'll release the mobile port on that as well. I'm just concerned about losing the game I grew up with, in a way. Sorry for the novel, this game is a huge deal to me. 😅

I've owned almost every major console from every big player (Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft) since the N64 generation of consoles. I couldn't imagine owning JUST Nintendo consoles my whole life. I would have missed out on some amazing games over the years. That said, some of my most memorable gaming experiences have been on a Nintendo console. If I HAD to choose only one console every generation, it would most likely be a Nintendo console.

@chocolate_supra No it's okay, you're totally fine! I like hearing fans of games explaining why they like the games, and it's certainly understandable how these changes make you feel like the DS version is, well, inferior, even if it isn't.

I wouldn't give up hope too much though. Final Fantasy 1 has been released on the NES Online app on the Switch, so there's already Square content on there- so there is a chance that Chrono Trigger will similarly release on the SNES app down the line, and you can bet that if that happens, that will be the SNES version, not the DS version. After all the NES version of Final Fantasy was used, too, and not one of those mobile ports or whatever else there was!

Though why can't you simply use an SNES and the game itself? Did yours break or something?

@Yosher Ah yes, very good question. Well, I let a friend borrow the game in high school (back when copies could be bought for cheap and it wasn't a big deal) and after playing it for a while, he lost it. Eventually when I realized it was something I'd want to have for collectible and nostalgic purposes I went online and poof! Suddenly expensive.

@chocolate_supra Oof, yeah that kinda sucks. It's definitely not gonna become any cheaper down the line either I don't think. I guess your best bet right now then, if you don't want to (or just can't) spend so much on an original SNES copy, is waiting for that SNES Online app to get that version of the game.. or playing on emulators. Not that I wanna promote emulators, but sometimes developers leave fans with little alternative options.

@sixrings I've been posting on Nintendolife for a while now and I'm trying to figure out what thread you're talking about where everyone posts "Xbox and PS are trash." I'm not finding it.

It puzzles me when people come to a site that promotes Nintendo products, games and news and are shocked when people want to talk mostly about Nintendo. I've seen plenty of people on this site who admit that they love to game on PC, or on their PS4 or on their Xbox or on all of them. I've never seen Nintendo fans attack them for playing "trash" or being a "fanboy" or anything like that. I don't know of Nintendo fans that go on Metacritic and review bomb PS4 exclusives because they aren't on the Switch.

Nintendo fans aren't perfect and yes, some get defensive when Nintendo is criticized for something. However, that is a part of the bias of a site that is devoted to Nintendo news and reviews.

In the end, we are all gamers. Some of us Nintendo only, some of us other platforms, but we love to game. Can't we just accept that and let people play whatever they want and not act like immature children for differences of opinions?

@electrolite77 Yeah it was a 2d fan's paradise. The Capcom fighting games were all superb and yeah what a collection of shooters, Dodonpachi and obviously Radiant Silvergun were killer. And to this day people are still struggling to emulate it!

@kingbk well maybe I exaggerated when I said "trash.". But there are plenty of xbox has no games comments... it's just gears, halo and forza over and over again (guess these comments don't get xbox people or ps people sometimes think of Nintendo as being Zelda, Mario, Dk over and over again.). The biggest comments though are in the threads where people are debating pro consoles and if Nintendo should make one. These comments are normally along the lines of ps4 pro and xbox one x are just graphics and nothing else. As if graphics don't matter. Well they do matter when it's 1080p 60fps Mario Kart deluxe or smash ultimate but in general this site has many people who mock xbox and ps owners as people obsessed with graphics and whom don't care about gameplay.

As I said before and will say it again. A true gamer will own all consoles. If you love all games as a gamer you want the best experience. When you have 3 consoles in a generation you can always maike a choice because you own more hardware. I once had PSX and Dreamcast and N64. I always went with Dreamcast since that was the strongest and gave me the best experience. Like Legacy of Kain soul reaver on Dreamcast. The psx I had a demo of it, but the 3d movement wasn't really working in that one. While on Dreamcast it gives you full 3d movement. See? You can make a choice which one you want to go for. That's how it's always been for me. I had NES and Sega Master system. Later SNES and Genesis... later N64 and then psx and then I got Dreamcast. I all saved up money and still got these hardware. It's possible to own them all. You just wait for the right time each generation . But as a true gamer owning another hardware besides Switch is the best. Lets be honest Switch got only 4gb... that 4gb is not enough. Look how Bloodborne suffered from the long load times... and that hardware has 8gb ram system memory. I bet if it went 720p like switch it would be fine, but they go for the highest and I bet in most cases Switch goes to highest settings as well for each game it's different

@sixrings I do agree with you about Xbox. But only about the Xbox One. There aren't really likeable games on that hardware. It's very very generic. Xbox 360 had many many variaty and it was a bit ahead with it's hardware. In most cases Xbox 360 games were better ports than on PS3. Xbox one X doesn't get my attention because there's a very few games that are likeable. They couldn't even be bothered to release an other gem Fable game. After fable 2 that studio went downhill. It's like they went for easy money by just using the Fable title to have more sales. We never seen another Kameo game after the Xbox 360 release. That game is fun to play and from RARE. No love for Kameo, no love for Fable, no love for other exclusive RPGs... Blue Dragon on Xbox 360 was an other reason for me to get that hardware. And some other RPGs that also been released on Xbox 360 were also good. But Xbox O X.. doesn't offer much. They will be releasing Xbox next gen very soon I believe so you can play all xbox games on 1 hardware. From reading that I got excited because I do have Xbox originals games and Xbox 360 games. So it means I can play all on this new xbox because all will be supported. They better work on new IPS new RPGs or Adventure games. It's a lackluster the Xbox atm. We all know the truth here

I have every console but the Xbox One X (I got the S to play 4k Blu-rays in a place with slow internet...). The only one's I play are my Switch and Switch Lite. I still have to finish FF15 on the PS4... It's been like 2-3 years since I've played and I'm in the final chapter. I need to cancel those recurring charges for xbox live and ps+.